LONG BEACH / WASHINGTON — In a historic policy and infrastructure pivot, the Port of Long Beach has officially signed a non-binding Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to become the United States' primary commercial port testbed for nuclear-powered shipping.

The agreement establishes a formal framework to explore, test, and integrate advanced Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) across commercial container vessels, terminal operations, and broader maritime infrastructure. The partnership forms a key component of national initiatives aimed at reviving U.S. maritime dominance, boosting energy resilience, and eliminating carbon emissions from long-distance ocean transport.

Collaborative Regulatory Frameworks and Inter-Agency Oversight

Under the terms of the agreement, the Port of Long Beach and MARAD will coordinate closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Together, these entities are tasked with drafting comprehensive operational protocols, safety standards, inspection procedures, and port-access guidelines to safely accommodate future SMR-powered vessels calling at U.S. gateways.

"This first-of-its-kind partnership with MARAD allows us to leverage strong federal leadership and private sector innovation to catalyze SMR technology as we safely and securely support the next generation of shipping," stated Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Long Beach and President of the California Association of Port Authorities.

Maritime Administrator Stephen M. Carmel echoed these sentiments, highlighting the strategic importance of the initiative: "This milestone agreement with the Port of Long Beach brings cutting-edge Small Modular Reactor technology into active testing. It ensures our maritime supply chains stay operational under any contingency while training a new generation of highly skilled American mariners."

Catalyzing the Port of the Future and Zero-Emission Marine Energy

Port executives emphasized that exploring nuclear energy is a vital strategic necessity as container volumes and terminal electrification expand. The Port of Long Beach maintains a long-term goal of doubling annual container throughput to 20 million TEUs by 2050, which will trigger a massive surge in local electricity demands for container handling equipment and shoreside operations.

The initiative is further bolstered by private-sector tenant collaborations—such as lease agreements with maritime power module developers—solidifying Long Beach's position as a premier global transpacific gateway preparing for the future of zero-emission marine energy. While commercial deployment remains in an exploratory stage, the testbed initiative lays the essential regulatory and operational groundwork for the next evolution of green marine propulsion.